All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present during any examination where they feel that one is required – for example during an intimate examination. The purpose of the chaperone is to act as a safeguard not only for the patient but also the doctor or nurse.
All members of the nursing team and health care support worker team, together with some members of reception staff have appropriate training to act as chaperones.
Patients are encouraged whenever possible to ask for a chaperone at the time of booking an appointment. This ensures that there are minimal delays during examination, rather than having to wait for a chaperone to be come available.
